Screening of wheat varieties against shoot fly (Atherigona naqvii Steyskal)

Fifty five wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori and Paol.) varieties were tested in single row trial during rabi 2004–05 at Nawabganj Research Farm of C.S. Azad University of Agricultural and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh to evaluate the degree of resistance to shoot fly. The infestation of shoot fly were recorded at 20, 40, 60 days after sowing. Seven varieties, viz. NIDW 309, HW 3070, PBW 525, MACS 6165, NIDW 295, AKDW 2997–16 and PBW 522 were found resistant against shoot fly having lesser infestation index (0 to 1 per cent dead heart), while ten varieties, namely HD 2830, HUW 555, RAJ 6566, HPW 217, UP 2565, HUW 564, HPW 224, JKW-2, NIDW 29 and HW 4011-1 showing 2 to 5 per cent dead heart were considered as moderately resistant. The varieties HD 2826, VL 461, VL 865, VL 868, HD 2865, HD 2867, MPO 1153, HD 2866, MP 1565, HS 444, NW 2069, HI 8630 and HD 2864 having 6 to 10 per cent dead heart infestation were susceptible against shoot fly. The resistant or moderately resistant varieties, therefore, may be raised in the Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh.